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My name is April, I'm married to Clay, a very tall, very funny architect. He's the city boy and I'm the country girl but together we are turning into homesteading weirdos. We have four kids that we are trying our darndest to raise loving God and His creation. To know us is to laugh with us, we laugh a lot. Especially at each other.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

My friends, I want to thank you for advising me to check out Ebay to solve our clothing problems.

I'm happy to say I'm having a very sultry affair with this Ebay and it's paying off quite lusciously.

So far, I've purchased two dress shirts (one new, one used) and one pair of new dress pants for Clay. Normally I would have paid around $200 for those three items, but I only shelled out $30. I know!!!! It's like Heaven has opened up and rained Ebay on my head.

Right now I'm in a bidding war with some awful person that wears the same size jeans as I do. She has no idea who she's bidding against, I think if she did she would have mercy and stop bidding on those Calvin Kline jeans that need to be on my body!!!!

Don't worry, I do have a bid limit. I'm still the cheapest person in the world and I think I will be saying goodbye forever to those very cute Calvin Kline jeans that should be covering my big bodacious self. Dang it.

I also hit a thrift store a few weeks ago when I visited my sister. I spent $7 on a new Gap back pack that was full of playstation games and music cds, two shirts, one wool skirt, adult sized snow pants, rain jacket and several sweatshirts for the boys and Clay. I was surprised some of the clothes were in great condition and were name brands like Abercrombie, Gap, Carhart and American Eagle. My boys have been having a great time with the cds they found in the back pack. SCORE!

I told Clay that I might be able to cloth our family for around $1000 a year at the rate I'm going.

WOULDN'T THAT BE AMAZING?!!!

I tell ya, it's time consuming and somewhat irritating doing this debt thing, but I dig the challenge. Mostly, I appreciate all of you that have helped point me to some great resources. Thank you!

You should really sign up for Freecycle in your area. There are always people posting clothes that they want to get rid of. You just have to go a pick them up. It's worth a try. Check them out at: http://www.freecycle.org/

I have an off/again on/again relationship with Ebay. Totally bought all my own clothes/purses/shoes there and my dd's a couple years ago. Then Ebay and I broke up. I still have a lovely 331 feedback score! And recently I bought some Teaching Company stuff for school....so Ebay and I are making tentative efforts to kiss and make up.

I think it DOES take time to do that whole consignment/thrift/Ebay thing. It used to be my TIME was more important than digging. I had a toddler for Pete's sake, of course time was important! But there comes a point in ones life and economy where the MONEY is really more important than time. And I'm back to that point now...I'm ready to listen when Ebay calls.

Hey April, this site is having a great deal on fall clothing, if you can plan that far ahead and if they're not too "mature" for you. Fuggedabout it if you hate decorated tops. http://www.bonworth.com/

Nope, and the backpack was the pricey item at 3.00! Everything was half off at the thrift store that day.....which seems kinda funny to me, but I'm not complaining, just laughing all the way home with my SCORE!

I haven't succumbed to the Ebay madness yet. I LOVE the thrift stores! I have a 10 year old who is growing like a weed, and it sure is nice knowing I am not paying exhorbitant prices to clothe her and find out she just grew out of yet ANOTHER pair of jeans...

Enjoy the thrift store shopping while you can, I would imagine that with this economy, we are going to have a harder and harder time finding cheap used clothes.

I wonder how much we spend on clothes per year. I wouldn't have thought it would be that much, but considering it just now, even as cheap as I am it still adds up.

So, how do you know these things fit if you can't try them on first? Do you just buy brands you know fit you well? I would be nervous about buying jeans on Ebay. However, thinking about the pair of jeans I'm wearing now--my favorite pair, bought at Goodwill--I wonder if I could find a couple more pairs exactly like them on Ebay. The way stores/brands change styles, I'm sure they aren't available new any more. I'm going to have to study the tag and see if what I can come up with.

The thrift store is the only place I buy my jeans, because I know that sooner or later sheep poop will somehow get on them. I buy Gap, Old Navy and Levis 'cause I know those brands fit me -- and I have gotten pretty accurate at sizing up (pardon the pun) whether the rise, boot leg, etc are what I will like! I also agree about the previous poster's comment about ebay. You need to perfect your sniping technique to get bargains.

Goodwill often has one day a week where they offer senior discounts. Mom and I go on those days and I pick stuff out, put it in her cart and she buys stuff for herself too. She gets the senior discount and I give her the cash back when we get in the car. Every little bit of savings helps!

Hi April... love your blog .. do some more dancing soon ok? The last clip of Clay was HE LAR I US!My good friend has been blogging about Ramsey budgeting stuff too and I thnk you would love her humor.. check her out!http://reclaimsimplicity.com/

I LOVE ebay.I don't usually purchase clothes but I always order Avon 9at about a third of the original price). I also buy Books on Cd - listen to them, then resell them again on Ebay. I've never had a bad experience with a seller.

An Ebay tip, search for the item you are interested in...then put a comma and type the work "lot". If you're buying for your kids for the next season search for shirts in the size you think they'll wear next year and look for "lots". This way you get MUCH more articles of clothing for a combined price that's lower than if you were to purchase each shirt individually.

I do love the Ebay. I got this killer retro leopard print coat on Ebay that I love. Also some retro black metal cat eye glasses that I had my eye doc put my perscription in to wear just for fun. Or when I'm in a bad mood and want to do the Mad Men look.

Yes, although I'm not an EBAY gal, my technologically minded brilliant brother is (guy :) ) and it is true what "anonymous" says, only big on stuff JUST before it's time is "up". This is the true secret of EBAY. There is even a term for the skillful practice, which of course I can't remember. As with coupons, I guess there IS in fact a "WAY" to do things. Have fun!

April, You want to win the item, then snipe it. Look in the comments section of ebay. Sellers are not fond of it, but if I really really really want something and am not around when it closes, it is the way to get it. vrane.com is the one I use, only the free public one, not the one that costs money!

Hey April, I love your blog, You remind me alot of myself (4 kids, chickens,gardening, lots of pets,etc). Anyway, You introduced me to Dave Ramsey and he is having the $10 special again on his website (sale ends april 30th). I think I am going to buy the envelope system, I just have to decide on the black or the red